Cain sticks to his stump speech at NRA gathering

PITTSBURGH — Radio host Herman Cain said Friday that the right to bear arms “and protect yourself if you have to” is fundamental to freedom.

“That’s what America is all about,” the tea party favorite told a few thousand gun owners at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting here.

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The long-shot Republican presidential candidate spoke little about guns in his 14-minute speech. Indeed, he began his speech with a riff on protecting the unborn, though he said later that he “can’t wait” to walk the floor of the exhibition hall and talk with gun owners Saturday.

“You know your rights, not just your Second Amendment rights; you know all your rights,” he said.

The rest of his animated talk was largely boilerplate from the stump speech he’s been giving wherever possible.

“The American dream is under attack,” he said. “We must now be the ‘defending fathers’ of that same vision and of those principles that made this nation great.”

He spoke of the American people as “a sleeping giant” that has awakened and won’t go back to sleep.

“I am glad to inform you that I believe we have the liberals on the run,” he said.

Then, without saying he’s running for president, Cain tried to turn his total lack of political experience into a qualification.

“Now many of you all may have noticed that I am one of the few speakers here today that has not held public office — yet,” he said, with a pause before the yet. “I’m just saying.”